Electrical signaling means



June 21, 1927. 1,633,043

H. W. SLAUSON ELECTRICAL SIGNALING MEANS Filed Oct. 18,1924

Patented June 21, 1927..

HAIR/OLD W. SIAUSON, 0! NEW YORK, N.

mac'rarca'r. srenarme means;

Application filed October .18, 1924. Serial 80. 744,322.

Modern highwa traffic has developed a need for rapid, e cient means of signaling the movements of motor vehicles, and in particular upon the occasions when the vehicles are moving into or out of the stream of trafiic. On many such occasions it is necessary" to indicate that the vehicle is driven to the rear. Where provision has been made for indicating the rearward operation of the vehicle it has uniformly :consisted in a visual or audible signal which operates as soon as the movement is initiated and continues to operate throughout the period of the rearward movement. It will readily be seen that where the signal is audible this will result in objectionable features and easily becomes a nuisance to the driver as well as being unnecessary..-

. The following invention has been developed with a view to correcting the above un-. desirable featuresand to provide means for positively permitting the operator athis will to give a signal directed to the rear.

Distinction is here drawn between an invol-' untary signal and one which is entirelyunder the control of the o erator of the vehicle/ In this manner t e signal may be operated either before or during the rearward movement of the vehicle or, if such is desired, the signal may operate both befere and during such movement.

As a specific example of one form'which my invention may take, I have selected an "indicator appropriatelyplaced; at the rear of the vehicle and indicating .its reverse .movement. In'this case the indicator is an audible signal such as a horn, so connecte with the operating mechanism of the vehicle as to be effective only when the veghicle is geared for reverse movement. It is further an incident of my invention that this signal shall be operated only at the will of the vehicle operator and shall not become effective merelyby the shifting of gears or the like.

In the further description .of my inven- .tion reference is had to the drawing m which there is shown a diagrammatic representation of an automobile chassis upon which is mounted a preferred form of my invention.

.The automobile chassis is indicated generally' by the numeral 1 and includes as part of its equipment transmission means 2 in the ,form of a set of gear shift levers of conventional type and serving to modify the driving force of the driving shaft 3 upon the propeller shaft 4;

There is also shown the customary storagebattery ,5'as part of the chassis and its equipment. v The usual audible signal or horn 6 is signals forward of the vehicle. The'horn 6 is connected to the battery 5 by means of the lead wire 7, horn button or switch-8, and lead wire 9. The electrical circuit is compcteal through the ground by means of leads A signal 11 is mounted u on the rear of the chassis and takes the firm of a horn similar to horn 6. It will of. course be apparent that a visual signalma be'operated similarly to the horn, if desired, without affecting the operation of the device. The horn 11 is grounded on one sideby the lead 10. i The horn is also placed in circuit with the storage battery by means of lead mounted upon the framework to direct the 12'which terminates in a switch 13. This switch is suitably mounted either within the transmission case 2 or upon the, same. The switch takes the form of two spaced wiping members, one of which 'iscon'nected to the lead 12 while the other is connected to the lead-14 which joins the lead 7 between the forward signal 6 andzthe' button. switch 8. 1

An extension 15 of the gear shift slider operates betweenthe spaced blades of the switch 13 and closes the gap between said blades when the gears are shifted into. the reverse position. 1

d while I have shown the switch as' installed-within the transmission case it can as readily be mounted upon' the transmission case and be closed by the gear shift rod when thesame is brought into reverse position. I

The operation of the above will be readily understood. During ordinary-0' eration of the vehicle in all relations of t e gear shift levers except reverse, the switch 13 will form a break in the rear signal without in any way interfering with the normal operation of the front signal 6. -However,

. when the operator has shifted the gears into reverse, the switch 13 is closed. The vehicle may then-be moved'to the rear without rendering the rear signall 11 operative.

when from the observation of the However, I

desired to indicate that the operator it is vehicle is moving to the rear, the born button 8 closes the battery circuit through the rear signal 11 and may be held closed according to the inclination of the operator. This is howevera circumstance over which he has constant control and for which he is continually responsible and no rearsignal is operated until he so desires it. In this way the use of the signal is rendered entirely unobiectionable and cannot become a nuisance. t will be evident that during the o eration of the rear signal the forwar signal is likewise operated so that the warning is iven to those in front as well as those w 0 may be in the rear of the vehicle. This will be reco nized as a very advantageous feature. urthermore, the operator can be confident that at no time is the front signal rendered out of commission.

While I have shown the invention as developed in a preferred form of audible signal, it will st1ll be apparent that numerous changes in minor details, such as the substitution of a different form of signal, a closed rather than a grounded circuit or an altered position of the switch 13, can be carried out within the purview of my inventionand the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1..In. combination with an automotive vehicle, a reversing mechanism therefor, including a control lever, an audible warning device'mounted adjacent the forward end of the vehicle and arranged to project sound waves in a forward direction, a second audible w'arnin device mounted adjacent the rear end 0, said vehicle and arranged to project sound waves in a rearward direction, manual means for simultaneously operating .said warning devices, and means dependent uponv the position of said control lever for rendering said second audible warning device inoperative.

2. In combination with an automotive her in ot vehicle, a reversing mechanism therefor, including a manual control lever, an audible warning device mounted adjacent the forward end of the vehicle and arranged to project sound waves in a forward direction, a second audible warnin device mounted adjacent the rear end 0 said vehicle and arranged to project sound waves in a rearward direction, manual means for simultaneous operation of said devices by the operator, and means dependent upon the position of said manual control lever for removing said second audible warning device from the control of the o rator.

3. In combination wit an automotive vehicle, a reversing mechanism therefor, including a control'lever, an electrically 'operated audible warning device mounted adjacent the forward end of the vehicle and arranged to project sound waves in a forward direction, a second electrically operated audible warning device mounted adjacent the rear end of said vehicle and arranged to project sound waves in a rearward direction, a source of electrical energy on said vehicle, an electrical circuit adapted to connect said source of energy with said forwardly mounted warning signal, a second electrical circuit adapted to connect said source of energy to said rearwardly mounted warning signal and having a portion in common with said first electrical circuit, a single switch mechanism intercalated in the common portion of said electrical circuit for simultaneously sounding said audible warning devices, and means for interrupting said second electrical circuit rendered operable by movement of said control memerpositions than that of the reverse position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto afiixed my signature.

HAROLD 'w. sLAUsoN." 

